Julia L. Butterfield Memorial Library

I adore libraries — must be the nerd in me — and I love the Butterfield Library in Cold Spring. The adorable brick building aside, it is everything I think of when imagining the perfect library: historic, well-​preserved interior, complete with (nonfunctional) fireplace; large guilded paintings of the founders, dressed in fine 19^th century garb; neatly stacked shelves; graceful tables for sitting and reading; and a friendly staff.
The library is small — the literature/​fiction section is in front, while most of the historical and non-​fiction texts are located in the larger room, which has a stage for presentations. There is also a children’s section downstairs, and the library has two computers for browsing the card catalog. I’ve been able to find books I’ve wanted here, but just as often end up requesting items through Butterfield’s interlibrary loan system (remember, it’s a small place).
But I don’t care where the books come from, really — I just love climbing the front steps, opening the door and entering Library Land. Not chaotic, we-​must-​queue-​up-​New-​York-​Public-​Library-​land, but Old Fashioned Library Land, where you can gather your books together and linger, because lingering is necessary and encouraged.